The RIBSA Junior team won the 2014 Celtic Challenge for the first time since 2009 in the Terry Griffiths Matchroom in Llanelli after a dramatic final session win over a talented young Welsh team. This annual event features the best Irish and Welsh Under 14 and Under 16 players and this year’s event was one of the most dramatic in the history of the event.
This event featured six players on a team playing two frames in each match and they were six sessions of play starting at 10.30am and the winning ball was potted at 6.30pm. Ireland went into the final session two frames behind but the Irish fought for every ball and won the final session 15 frames to 9 to overtake the Welsh by 4 frames to claim the title.
Star performer on the day for the Irish was Fergal Quinn who won 11 frames out of the possible 12 frames and it was Gordan Pantall from the Welsh Billiards & Snooker Association who presented the team captain Charlie Sweeney from Newbridge CYMS with the Perpetual Cup in front of a packed club.
Session 1 : Ireland 10 – Wales 14
Session 2 : Ireland 11 – Wales 13
Session 3 : Ireland 13 – Wales 11
Session 4 : Ireland 12 – Wales 12
Session 5 : Ireland 13 – Wales 11
Session 6 : Ireland 15 – Wales 9
Overall the Irish Under 16 Team were beaten 28 frames to 44 by the Welsh but the Irish Under 14 team beat their opponents 46 frames to 26 frames to finish the overall match 70 frames to Wales and 74 frames to Ireland. The Team Manager was Brendan Cooney from Youghal and Team Coach was PJ Nolan. The RIBSA Referee were Tony Thorpe and Paddy Hanafin and they all did a superb job.
The Under 14 Team
1. Fergal Quinn – Cookstown
2. Sean Devaney – Letterkenny
3. Aaron Goldrick – Cavan
4. JJ Monaghan – Navan
5. Corey Ramsbottom – Carlow
6. Ronan Whyte – Letterkenny
The Under 16 Team
1. Charlie Sweeney – Newbridge (2014 Captain)
2. Jason O Hagan – Castledawson
3. Darragh Cusack – Dublin
4. Shane Hourihane – Cork
5. Eamon Harkin – Letterkenny
6. Ross Bulman – Youghal
OVERALL : Ireland 74 – Wales 70
Well done to all the players from everyone involved in RIBSA and the Congratulations are flying in from all around the world to the players on their fantastic victory today and our RIBSA Chairman John Doherty was one of the first to ring and congratulate the boys.
Come on Ireland!!!
Match Stats from today
The Referees in Action today in Wales who did an excellent job looking after all the matches. Well Done !!!
